Everton’s Victor Anichebe has been ruled out for the rest of the season.

The 20-year-old striker underwent a scan on damaged cartilage in his right knee on Wednesday and he will now undergo exploratory surgery on the injury which was suffered in the match against Newcastle on 22 February.

Everton manager David Moyes told the club’s website: “It’s a blow for him as he’d just got back into the team, and it’s another player we have lost.”

Fellow striker Ayegbeni Yakubu and key midfielder Mikel Arteta are also out for the rest of the campaign.

Anichebe limped off the pitch in the 0-0 draw at Goodison Park after a tackle by Kevin Nolan, who was shown a straight red card.

The forward admitted he had feared the worst immediately after the incident.

“I’ve never felt as much pain in my life, I thought I’d broken my leg,” he said.

“I couldn’t even look down. It was a terrible tackle but I don’t think he really meant it, he came and said sorry. But what can you do?

“I’ve always thought to myself I’ll never get injured for a long period of time.

“When it happened I thought, that’s me, that’s my time, but luckily I’ve got strong legs anyway, and if that was anyone else, their leg would have snapped in two.”

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